"I've got something for you."
Hearing the low rumble of Pierce's voice, Talon glanced at the doorway.
"You're doing well Tanarin, just keep holding the saber like I showed you," She ruffled her niece's soft dark blue hair before heading over to her husband. Brushing her own jet hair from her eyes, she craned up to give him a searing kiss.
"Hey, now, you don't even know what it is," he joked as he let his arms fall around her. He looked over at her niece and shook his head. "Five years-old... you sure? She looks about ten." Talon chuckled.
"I keep telling you. Chiss childhood doesn't last long, but the aging process slows at ten and then we age more like humans." She watched him shake his head again.
"Still hard to get used to," he stated and she laughed again as she placed his hand on her barely rounded stomach.
"Well, you'd better," she chuckled, "It's going to be the same for ours."
His eyes shone with warmth when she mentioned their upcoming delivery and the potential for more. This current visit to Hoth had reminded her how much family meant to her people. She and Pierce had made the trip to see her father and belatedly introduce him to his son-in-law. One of her brothers was visiting as well, with a few of his children. His eldest son had just been transferred to Dorn and the visit had turned into an impromptu family reunion.
'You serve the Emperor himself?' her youngest niece had asked in awe and Talon had nodded as she'd picked up twinges of Force ability from the young girl. Soon after that insight, she commandeered a storage room and had been giving the girl some basic lessons on handling a saber when Pierce's large frame had filled the doorway.
"So, how strong is she?" he asked, looking at the slim Chiss girl again and Talon shrugged.
"Not sure yet, her ability has just begun to manifest," she gazed thoughtfully at Tanari, "I'd been toying with the idea of training her myself." Pierce looked pensive.
"What about the Academy?" he asked, "Won't the Empire want a hand in her training?" Talon laughed ominously.
"I'm the Emperor's Wrath; do you think they'd challenge me about it?" Dark energy started swirling at her hands and the look of concern on her husband's face brought her up short as she realized she was losing focus.
There were still moments where the darkness that had consumed her fought to take back control. Pierce had been instrumental in helping her regain her most of her old self, now he was always on alert, ready to give her any support she needed. Bringing herself back to the present, she stroked the arms of her loving husband and saw him relax. My Soldier, she thought affectionately, then remembered what'd he said when he'd entered the room.
"Now you said you had something for me, my love?" she purred, "I'm intrigued." He gave her a familiar smirk as he tugged her back to him.
"Just wanted to get you a little something and your brother said this'd be perfect." Talon reached up and ran her fingers over the discolored spot on Pierce's jaw almost hidden by his beard.
"He's probably trying to make up for that," she chuckled as Pierce reached up and covered her hand with his.
"Your brother's got a mean right," he muttered good-naturedly, "Can't say I blame him. If I found out some bloke I don't know got my little sis in the family way, I'd take a swing at him. But he and I'd patched things up quick after I'd told him we got married." He turned his face to give her fingers a kiss.
"Now then, for this to be a proper surprise I need to do something," Talon was curious as he took out a piece of fabric and tied it around her head to cover her eyes. He chuckled again and she tilted her head in the direction of his voice.
"You know love, as beautiful as those red eyes are, there's something about seeing you like this," A quiet shifting sound was her only warning before Pierce clasped her waist, easing her to him. His mouth came down on hers, relaxed but firm and she reached her arms up to grasp at his shoulders. She moaned quietly as the kiss became hungry, her lips moving urgently on his. It was only when they heard the giggle from Tanari that they broke away from each other. She felt a light kiss at her lips as she heard another rumbling chuckle.
"Might save that blindfold for later," Pierce said, "Looks like fun." Using the sound of the deep voice to guide her, Talon lashed out a fist and caught him square in the chest with a firm blow, laughing at his exaggerated exclamation of pain.
"My brother isn't the only one with a mean right," she teased, "Now if you don't want more, I'd suggest showing me where my gift is."
"You're the boss," he retorted as he placed her hand in the curl of his arm to lead her.
After taking the post's elevator to the surface, Pierce had led her through the cold wind, stopping briefly to open a door and urge her inside. The pungent smell of warm animal bodies was the first thing Talon noticed, followed by low bleats. The tauntaun stables, she thought, why were they here? Pierce continued pulling her through until they reached his intended destination.
"Here you go, love," he said as he pulled her blindfold off.
They stood in the open door of a large stall, looking at a young female taun. The creature gave out a plaintive bleat and its four nostrils twitched as it sniffed at Talon while she moved slowly towards it. The taun wasn't much taller than Talon, proving that she couldn't have been very old and her plush fur was a deep gray with a broad white streak down her back.
Talon took off her glove, reaching out as she edged to the animal, letting it adapt to her movements and scent. After seeing the taun was getting comfortable with her, she reached underneath the coarsely bristled muzzle and scratched her chin. The taun let out a bleating grunt of pleasure and her eyes half closed as she relaxed the weight of her head into Talon's fingers. Still scratching, Talon turned over her shoulder to glance at Pierce. From the look on his face, she could tell the taun's strong scent wasn't agreeing with him, but he was putting up with it to let her enjoy the moment.
"She's beautiful," Talon said gratefully, watching satisfaction shine in her husband's eyes.
"Your brother said you'd had one when you grew up here and his boy said he'd be honored to take care of her for you. Thought she'd make a nice mount for when we visit," he choked up for a moment.
"Sorry love, don't know how you handle the smell. Not used to being around the beasts in an enclosed area." Talon laughed and decided to show Pierce some mercy.
"Let's take her outside then," she stated as she grabbed a bridle and deftly fastened it around the taun's head. They led her outside where Pierce started looking relieved instantly as he took a deep breath. Glancing at Talon, he gave her a smile.
"You like her?" he asked, and Talon rubbed the taun's muzzle.
"She's a sweet creature, just a bit young to be trained to ride," she said, "Does she have a name?" Pierce shook his head.
"Stable sergeant said her name but it's some bloody pedigree longer than my arm. Figured you'd give her a nickname you liked," he leaned in, "Though I was thinking if she made you happy, maybe calling her 'Joy'." Talon instantly made a face and laughed.
"I'm definitely not letting you name our children," she laughed, "Did the other soldiers in Black Ops know you were such a softie?" He shook his head as he started laughing along with her.
"Not losing my edge, love. I'm only like this with you," he said. Moving towards the taun, he braved a hand under her muzzle to scratch where Talon had.
"So, what would you call her?" Talon thought about it as she rubbed the taun's snout.
"Cssinusah," she stated matter-of-factly, watching Pierce nod in approval.
"Don't suppose you'll tell me what that means, will you?" he asked, and she gave him a crafty look.
"I think we need to work on your Cheunh," she teased, "That one should be easy." Pierce smirked back at her.
"Oh, I'm always up for one of your lessons," he let his voice grow deeper, "Especially when they involve the words 'mar ttis'ah', and 'tta'." Talon burst out laughing as her husband spoke Cheunh for 'yes, please', and 'more'.
"Well, your accent is terrible," she quipped, "Why don't I put Cssinusah in her stall and we can work on another language lesson." She turned to lead the taun she'd named Cheuhn for 'pierce' back into the stable, but stopped when she heard Pierce's deep voice rumble.
"Ch'ah ch'acah vah."
She walked back to him, still holding Cssinusah's lead and smiled warmly at him.
"Now that you said perfectly," she murmured as she stood on tiptoe to give him a heated kiss before answering, "I love you, too."
